Hydrotherapeutic massage bar



Dec. 17, 1940. G. A. STANZEL HYDRQTHERAPEUTIC MASSAGE BAR.

Filed April 12, 1937 Patented Dec. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES HYDROTHERAPEUTIC MASSAGE BAR George A. Stanzel, Des Moines, Iowa Application April 12, 1937, Serial No. 136,382

2 Claims.

This invention pertains to a device to be used in the treatment of diseases wherein the application of heat is beneficial in conjunction with massage, and particularly adapted to be used in the treatment of prostatitis or hemorrhoids.

The object of my in'vention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device which may be used by the patient being treated and under the directions of a competent medical advisor wherein the treatment may be more vigorously and efiectively accomplished than heretofore has been possible, without exorbitant cost to the patient.

I A further object of my invention is to provide a device having a slender body member substantially of the size of the ordinary examining finger for diagnostic purposes and for applying heat to the glands or organs being treated, and for softening and dilating the glands and therewith the fluid and pus-containing cavities therein, whereby the glandular fluid or pus may be more easily removed or stripped therefrom.

A further object is to provide, in connection with the body, means whereby the massage and stripping effects may be more easily accomplished.

A further object of my invention is to provide, in connection with a 'heated massage bar, a supporting handle provided with means for heating the same at a higher temperature or substantially the same temperature as that of the massage bar so that the user will be thereby warned as to an overheated condition to eliminate dangerous application of the bar.

A further object is to provide, in connection with a massage bar of the type above described, means for intermittently applying heat to the bar for stimulating effects.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my improved massage bar.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of both forms of the device.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

My improved device comprises a slender body l0 having its outer end I l somewhat larger than its inner end or neck portion l2, the body being preferably circular in cross section, with the neck portion I2 terminating in an enlarged and bifurcated portion l3, one member l4 of'which has a handle I5 formed integrally therewith.

Extending longitudinallythrough the handle 5 i5 and the body In is a pipe Hi to form a passage through which a hot fluid such as water may be circulated by means of a one-way, pressure bulb 19a. I

The outer end H is provided with a laterally 1'0 projecting knob II that I shall term hereinafter as a vesicle stripper. The tube i6 is extended through the body portion to a point near the end H and provided with a loop portion l8, adjacent to the knob I1. The tube It is then returned 15 to the enlarged portion l3 and terminated through the member 20 of said bifurcated portion. The body 10' is preferably formed of a good heat-conducting material, such as alumi-' num, the tube 16 preferably being of copper 20,

formed and placed within the mould, after which the aluminum is cast'around it, thus providing a cheap method of forming the desired passage through the body and handle without the use of delicate and expensive core, thus'providing a 25 rigid structure having good heat-conducting properties. The outer surface of'the body is finished and polished.

The bulb [9a is connected to the body [0 by means of a rubber tube 2!, which in turn is con-' 30 nected to the outer end of the handle I5, while a rubber tube 22 is provided for conducting the discharged water.

In Figure 2 I have illustrated a modified form of my device in which a pipe 23 is provided simi- 35 lar to the pipe I6, but includes in its return portion a coil 24 to increase its radiating surface, when it is desired to increase the temperature of the central portion of the body portion Hi.

In each form of my device illustrated I have 4 provided on one side of the body Ill a longitudinal flange or rib 25 that I shall hereinafter term a lobe-stripper.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a device for the treatment of 5 prostatitis in which is combined the two most important properties, heat and massage.

Many instruments have been devised for the application of heat per rectum in the prostatic area. These are principally electrical devices 50 which are mechanically controlled and dangerous where the treatment by prolonged heat has been desired. Those devices of any practical value are expensive and require constant vigilance by a skilled operator, while my improved 55 device may be operated by the patient after receiving very simple and untechnical instruction, so that the treatment may be carried on more effectively, and at the same time reducing the cost of the treatments.

Local heat has long been recognized as a necessary and important adjunct in the treatment of prostatic disease. Heat is very effectively applied by my improved device after themassage. bar has been properly located near the gland to be treated. Water is then circulated intermittently through the passage of the device by means of the bulb I9a, placed in a pan of hot water, first entering the handle I 5, then through the loop IB and then discharged from the tube 22. On account of the water first entering the handle l5 it will be seen that the temperature of the handle will always be slightly higher than that of the body portion so that the handle will act as a foolproof thermic indicator of the temperature of the body of thebar, whereby no injurious efiects or burns will be encountered as long as the temperature can be tolerated by the users hand supporting the handle. The most desired temperature isfrom 108 to 120 F The manipulation of. the bulb for best results should continue from twenty to forty-five minutesr After this length of time the bar isplaced with the vesicle stripper IT to position adjacent the wall of the rectumv and abovethe seminal vesicle, after which the bar is moved downwardly for stripping the seminal vesicles for diagnostic purposes or when infection is found to be present, It also acts as a stripper of the lobes of the prostate gland when the gland is large and the superior marginuof both lobes can be felt, This, however, is only done in cases where more severe massage can be tolerated; After a little experience this superior margin may be felt and the downward stripping, as well as the lateral stripping of the lobe, may be done with perfect accuracy. The medianlfurrow may also be completely evacuated by this vesicle stripper with the downward stroke of the bar along the prostatic and membranous urethra as a final gesture at the end of proper treatment.

By rotating the bar after evacuating the seminal vesicles with the vesicle stripper which is the first movein the sequence of massage, this bar, may be either rotated so that the lobe stripper will, in the more tender case, be caused to engage the lobes and be moved toward the median furrow, or if preferred, the lobe stripper may he slid transversely across the lobes. This lobe stripper exerts enough extra necessary pressure to completely evacuate infection through the prostatic tubules into the posterior urethra. After this is done, the bar is again rotated and with gentle downward pressure the vesicle stripper is brought through the median furrow, resulting in complete evacuation of the glandular secretion.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an improved hydro-therapeutic massage bar of simple, durable, and inexpensive construction, in which massage may be self-administered as a conjunctive treatment under supervision of a competent medical advisor, and in which the temperature of the bar may be safely maintained by the user, and so that more regular constant and prolonged treatment may be given to effect permanent relief.

I claim as my invention:

1. A hydro-therapeutic massage bar, comprising a slender body having one end formed substantially semi-spherical to form ahead and the other provided with a comparatively large handle portion, said head having at one side a circumferential and outwardly extending flange to form a vesicle stripper when the body is moved longitudinally, said body having an internal fluid passage beginning in the outer end of said handle, passing longitudinally within said handle and body and within said head and flange, and returning to and terminating at the inner end of said body, and means for longitudinally forcing a heated fluid through said passage.

2. A hydro-therapeutic massage bar, comprising a slender body having one end formed substantially semi-spherical to form a head and the other provided with a comparatively large handle portion, said head having at one side a circumferential and outwardly extending flange to form a vesicle stripper when thebody is moved longitudinally, said body having a single longitudinally extending and outwardly projecting flange to form a lobe stripper when the body is rotated about its longitudinal axis, said body having an internal fluid passage beginning in the outer. end of said handle, passing longitudinally within said handle and body and within said head and flange, and returning to and terminating at the inner end of said body, and means for intermittently forcing a heated fluid through said passage.

GEORGE A. STANZEL. 

